In coastal areas. Highest in south west coast. Lowest north east coast and interior.

Found in all regions of the world. Highest concentrations in northern hemisphere. Lowest in central Asia, northern North America.

Highest densities in south. Mainly extreme south and south west borders. Very low densities in north.

TASK: Add labels describing the location of extreme environments

EXPLAINING the GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF HOT, ARID ENVIRONMENTS

EXPLAINING GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF COLD AND HIGH ALTITUDE ENVIRONMENTS

Namib Desert. Namibia, South West Africa.

Cold and high-altitude environments are generally found along constructive plate margins, where fold mountains form, or polar regions.

Fold Mountains

Constructive plate margins

Mountainous regions have a high elevation, where atmospheric pressure is lower which causes lower temperatures.

The sun's rays are received more easily, however, more solar radiation is reflected due to the high reflectivity of snow.

At higher latitudes less heat penetrates the atmosphere as it is thicker and spread across a greater area.

Latitude and solar radiation

Hot, arid environments are found in the tropics. These areas receive direct sunlight in summer and winter.

Tropics and sunlight

Hadley cells in the atmosphere also cause aridity as the warm moist air rises from the equator.

This condenses and precipitates and the cooler air sinks over the tropical latitudes. The air is drier as cool air cannot hold as much moisture. The air then heats as it spreads over tropical regions and rises again.

Hadley cells and climate

Hot, arid climates can also be found in rain shadows, mountainous regions with arid areas behind them. The mountains cause relief rainfall and then the dry air blows across the landscape drying it out.

Periglacial environments have a cold climate and are frequently marginal (next to) to glacial environments. Subject to intense cycles of freezing and thawing of superficial sediments.

Permafrost is soil, rock or sediment that is frozen for more than two consecutive years. Permafrost is closely associated with periglacial environments and permafrost processes take place within a periglacial environment

CHALLENGES OF PERMAFROST

Access the resources and make notes on how periglacial environments create challenges for human habitation and resource development, as well as the measures used to overcome them.

HUMAN HABITATION AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Illustrate the challenges and explain how they affect human habitation and resource development.